Kool & the Gang: A reason to celebrate

By Matt Jacob June 15, 2018

There’s no denying that Kool & The Gang’s signature hit is “Celebration,” an international anthem that, to this day, is queued up at the culmination of virtually every triumphant athletic achievement. Just don’t confuse this particular band’s signature hit with their only hit. Because long before “Celebration” topped the charts in late 1980, Kool & the Gang had solidified their reputation as the masters of jazz, funk and soul thanks to such memorable singles as “Jungle Boogie,” “Ladies Night,” and “Fresh.”

To fully appreciate why Kool & The Gang is so much more than just “Celebration,” consider these nuggets from their résumé: They were the only American act asked to participate in “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” the 1984 song for Africa famine relief; they’re the second-most-sampled band by hip-hop acts of all time, trailing only James Brown; they were picked by Van Halen to open for the icons ahead of a 2012 world tour; and they had four members inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year; and, perhaps most impressively, 54 years after forming in New Jersey, Kool & The Gang still crisscrosses the globe, performing hundreds of shows annually. Now that’s stuff worth celebrating.